An eve with Terry O’Reilly

Bookmark will welcome bestselling author and host of CBC Radio’s Under the Influence Terry O’Reilly to Charlottetown for the launch of his new book Against the Grain: Defiant Giants Who Changed the World on November 6 at 7 pm at Florence Simmons Performance Hall. The evening will be moderated by Laura Chapin. This free, ticketed event is open to everyone. Tickets are available at bookmarkreads.ca.

In his bestselling book My Best Mistake, O’Reilly uncovered the surprising power of screwing up. Now he turns his incredible eye to the mavericks who go “against the grain” to explore what makes them tick and what lessons we can learn from them—people who ignored conventional wisdom, invented better ways, questioned the status quo, and pushed for change against all odds.

Some were drummed out of their careers but were later proven right (Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis). Some were celebrated but had to fight every inch of the way (Norman Lear). Some reinvented their industry but preferred to stay outsiders (Tom Laughlin—aka Billy Jack). Some confounded competitors with ingenious strategies (NHL coach Roger Neilson). One even saved millions but was humiliated, demoted, and dismissed for her entire career (Dr. Katalin Karikó). All were persistent visionaries, each covered in battle scars.

O’Reilly, the winner of hundreds of international advertising awards, is an in-demand speaker and bestselling author of The Age of Persuasion, This I Know, and My Best Mistake, a finalist for the National Business Book Award. His acclaimed radio programs—O’Reilly on Advertising, The Age of Persuasion, and Under the Influence—have aired on CBC Radio since 2005, and his podcast has been downloaded over 40 million times.